New York Horsepower: Sean Corr Racing for Victory, and Horse Carriages, at Daytona
Daytona Beach, FL – New York’s Sean Corr is riding into Daytona Beach for the Lucas Oil 200 with a top speed, and a message for a mayor back home. On Saturday, Corr’s No. 48 Ford stock car will feature a hood decal in support of Central Park’s horse carriage industry, which Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged to ban.
Corr, a member of the Empire Racing team, posted the top speed at the track in January. His teammates finished second and third. The Lucas Oil 200 is one of the premiere events of the 2015 ARCA Racing Series, presented by Menards.
The hood decal reads “New York Horsepower” and “#CarriageOn.”
“Really looking forward to today’s race and am so pleased to be starting in the top 10 with the New York Horsepower #48 Empire Racing Ford Fusion. The car is even better in race trim than qualifying trim so hoping for a solid finish. #CarriageOn!,” said Corr.
“Sean’s support means a lot because he grew up with horses. He knows what a happy horse looks like and didn’t listen to the animal extremists,” said Christina Hansen, a Central Park horse-carriage driver.
Horse-drawn carriages have been a feature of Central Park since 1858, and are always a top destination for tourists. Featured in numerous classic films and television shows, the horses have become an iconic part of the city’s landscape.
Mayor de Blasio pledged during the 2013 mayoral campaign to ban the industry, claiming that horses do not belong in today’s New York City. But New Yorkers have pushed back against the proposal, which would put 300 working families out of a job. Polls have consistently found greater than 2-1 opposition to the ban among New Yorkers and every editorial board and union in New York is against it. The ban proposal is currently stalled in the City Council.
Corr is no stranger to horses. He grew up in Goshen, NY, where his mother owns a horse farm. As a child, he took carriage rides in Central Park, and recalls that the carriage horses were “the best part of the city.” When he heard about plans to ban the horses from New York City, he reached out through the New York State Horse Council to offer his support.
“We treat our horses like family,” says Hansen. “There is a reason why every vet who visits them endorses the care. The stables are staffed 24 hours a day, with roomy stalls and regular vet visits. Each horse even gets at least five weeks vacation. The carriage horses mean a lot to the people of New York.”
With the support of Sean Corr, and the horsepower under and on the hood of number 48, Hansen and her horses hope to be driving for many years to come.
Contact:
Sherry Cheek, Empire Racing
704-749-4075, grumpycheek@yahoo.com
Alex Moore, Teamsters Joint Council 16
347-762-0778, alex@teamstersJC16.com